RW/C Mikko Rantanen (2015, 10th, COL)

[BusQuets]

The one thing I like about Rantanen is his effortless skating. For a guy that big it bodes well.

 

[Doug Prishpreed]

How does he compare to how Joel Armia looked in his draft year? The descriptions that people were using for Armia sound very similar to the ones being used for Rantanen: Big, great shot, nimble, smart, protects the puck, etc. They also are projected mid-first rounders.

Do they play a similar style? Does Rantanen project to be better than Armia?

 

[BusQuets]

How does he compare to how Joel Armia looked in his draft year? The descriptions that people were using for Armia sound very similar to the ones being used for Rantanen: Big, great shot, nimble, smart, protects the puck, etc. They also are projected mid-first rounders.

Do they play a similar style? Does Rantanen project to be better than Armia?

They are very much different players outside of both being finns. Armia is the mold of skilled european like Semin or Vanek. Rantanen is more your prototypical NHLer int he mold of JVR or Voracek.

 

[Periwinkle]

11 losses for his team in last 12 games. Horrible team..

The whole organisation is in a such a state of complete chaos that even as a TPS fan I wouldn't mind Rantanen leaving town for his own development. As long as it's not to HIFK

 

[Huokaus]

How does he compare to how Joel Armia looked in his draft year? The descriptions that people were using for Armia sound very similar to the ones being used for Rantanen: Big, great shot, nimble, smart, protects the puck, etc. They also are projected mid-first rounders.

Do they play a similar style? Does Rantanen project to be better than Armia?

I don't think they're very similar. Armia's more a goalscorer while Rantanen is a playmaker. While your description of "Big, great shot, nimble, smart, protects the puck, etc." is accurate for both, they're still very different kind of players. Armia's shot and dekes are better, while Rantanen is more willing to play in the front of the net.

I don't think either is yet using their size to their full potential, but I think Rantanen is ahead in that department.

 

[wings5]

WJC highlights:


Top 10 no doubt. Just so many tools, size, upside and versatility.

Really good hands, good skating and offensive instincts, great tools for sure to go along with his size. Not much unlike a player like JVR of the Leafs.

 

[sabrebuild]

I don't think they're very similar. Armia's more a goalscorer while Rantanen is a playmaker. While your description of "Big, great shot, nimble, smart, protects the puck, etc." is accurate for both, they're still very different kind of players. Armia's shot and dekes are better, while Rantanen is more willing to play in the front of the net.

I don't think either is yet using their size to their full potential, but I think Rantanen if ahead in that department.

Ya from what I have seen in maybe 9 games, was that he likes to get physical more than Armia, while still having room to do so even more. Style wise, less dangles and more power protection? Not sure if that is a regular thing for him or if its a small sample size?

 

[JJTT]

Another point for him. Scored a goal after a bad giveaway by Kärpät.

 

[thomast]

He's on fire. Looking like good 1st line C in FEL already. I hope he keeps this pace and maybe has outside shot to the NHL already for next season.

 

[FinPanda]

He needs to train faceoffs if he wants to be good C.

 

[ponder]

Big kid with some intriguing tools, looks good when he was time and space, but anyone else think his hands and game in general looks sketchy when he's under pressure? I can see the JvR comparisons in terms of his style of game, but he doesn't look as good to me, if I was drafting him I'd worry that he's more MPS than JvR.

 

[Alexandrov]

Big kid with some intriguing tools, looks good when he was time and space, but anyone else think his hands and game in general looks sketchy when he's under pressure? I can see the JvR comparisons in terms of his style of game, but he doesn't look as good to me, if I was drafting him I'd worry that he's more MPS than JvR.

I've only seen him play in WJC but I don't think so.

 

[MichaelJ]

He's ready listed at 6'3.5" and the announcers kept stating that he was up to 210 lbs. It's not crazy to think that in a few years he'll be Thornton sized (6'4" 220lbs). With his skating, hands, and playmaking he could be a pretty close comparison.

I could see Rantanen on a forward-starved team in a 3rd line role as early as next year.

 

[wings5]

He's ready listed at 6'3.5" and the announcers kept stating that he was up to 210 lbs. It's not crazy to think that in a few years he'll be Thornton sized (6'4" 220lbs). With his skating, hands, and playmaking he could be a pretty close comparison.

I could see Rantanen on a forward-starved team in a 3rd line role as early as next year.

Except he's not really a playmaker.

 

[JJTT]

Except he's not really a playmaker.

He really is. He just changed his playing style to more straight forward as nobody in his team could score from his passes.

 

[MichaelJ]

Except he's not really a playmaker.

Yes, he is.

 

[Sundinisagod]

I've only seen him play in WJC but I don't think so.

Same for me.

For a style comparison, based strictly off WJC viewing, anybody else see a bit of Sundin (high praise indeed) in Rantanen's game?

 

[wings5]

Yes, he is.

He didn't strike me at all as a playmaker type in the WJC, was much more of a dangler/shooter.

 

[Noma]

He didn't strike me at all as a playmaker type in the WJC, was much more of a dangler/shooter.

He had to be since noone else couldn't score. But he is more a playmaker than a sniper type of player. Obviously he can do the shooting too, but I'd still compare him to Joe Thornton when it comes to playing style.

 

[Jack DiBiase]

He didn't strike me at all as a playmaker type in the WJC, was much more of a dangler/shooter.

So you are making your assumptions based on a 5-game sample size? ok then.

He is a playmaker who is only now starting to realize his potential as a goal scorer after the promising WJC games. Usually he only looks to make passing plays and not think about shooting.

 

[Stats01]

Will probably be selected in the 7-10 range. Leafs sit at #10 currently, would love if the Leafs were able to take him.

 

[FinPanda]

His team sucks. They have one overtime win in last 17 games and 6 points. 4 of the points are overtime/shootout loser points. They lost 8-1 today and he was one of the three players whose +- wasn't negative. He played almost 19 minutes.

He has been the best (or at least one of the best) in his team for a long time.

 

[Esko6]

Fans were throwing their season tickets on the ice. Which ever team drafts Rantanen must also find a less toxic environment for him to develop in.

 

[Marc the Habs Fan]

Fans were throwing their season tickets on the ice.

There's a Leafs joke to be made here.

eliteprospects lists him as under contract through 2016-17, FWIW.

 

[Opak]

There's a Leafs joke to be made here.

eliteprospects lists him as under contract through 2016-17, FWIW.

As long as Rantanen goes in the 1st round, that contract is pretty much meaningless. If I understand the current CBA correctly, all 1st rounders in the Euro leagues that have signed a NHL ELC can be assigned to the AHL immediately. This is due to some weird transfer agreement between the NHL and the IIHF. Rasmus Ristolainen and Hampus Lindholm are players who were brought to the NA this way.